Things to Do in West Palm Beach

At Greenacres Bowl's lacquered lane emporium, competitors ranging from pint-size to full-size unleash spherical fury seven days per week. Strikes, spares, and sequential cheers ring through the center late into the evenings on weekends, which features laser bowling on Fridays and Saturdays. Automatic scoring helps cut down on disputes between opposing players or teams of Olympic figure-skating judges. In addition to games between friends, the facility also plays host to pin-punishing birthday parties, as well as leagues designed for all levels and ages. A recently sprouted billiards room lures eyes away from slick lanes and onto felt tables and high-definition televisions, while an on-site pro-shop stocks the latest shoes, gear, and accessories.

Zombies created by an old factory’s chemical spill roam through the darkness, carnies banished for animal abuse and torture scream in the distance, and a murderous Santa greets visitors with a wicked grin and a bloody ax. These are just snapshots of the horrors awaiting visitors to Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairgrounds. Hair-raising creatures and the souls of murder victims lurk throughout five haunted mazes. But those who wander into these haunts aren’t always helpless. At Kill Shot, victims running through an old factory must find an ammo closet and arm themselves with rifles to shoot free of zombie hordes. The Creature, on the other hand, leaves people little time before it swallows them whole.

Screams echoing out of the Carnival of Creeps’ tattered red-and-white-striped tents pierce the air of Santa’s Workshop and join shrieks coming from the midway itself, where 13 rides, such as the High Flyer and Zero Gravity, whip passengers through the air. Food stalls nestle amid the attractions, tempting guests with hot dogs, tacos, funnel cakes, and tufts of cotton candy, which patrons can use as hair for the decoy body they place in their bed later that night.

Palm Beach Segway Tours' experienced and witty guides lead motorized conga lines through Palm Beach and the historic downtown of West Palm Beach. Wind cascades over helmeted noggins as mansions, yachts, and museums scroll by, set against a tropical backdrop of beaches and sea creatures. Intrepid tourists may also rent 49 c.c. retro gas scooters, the same vessels that Italian explorers piloted when they discovered America in 1958.

The fun-loving teachers at Uptown Art: West Palm Beach believe they can teach anyone to paint work they'll be proud of. Child brush wielders get inspiration from helpful instructors who mentor them in their strokes, and adult classes find similar guidance from both the pro painters and their own BYOB beverages. The airy downtown studio attracts budding painters to its varied schedule of evening painting classes and daytime children's classes that span up to three festive hours of guided artmaking. Students return home with their masterpieces at their sides, each based on a class topic such as a homage to a beloved pet, a poignant still-life of potted flowers, or a self-portrait that looks suspiciously like Audrey Hepburn.

Founder and lead instructor Jamar has spent more than 25 years empowering students to take control of their lives by sharing his own inner journey through yoga. A certified Kripalu yoga instructor and meditation teacher, Jamar infuses each session of focused breathing and movement with his dedication for seeking the Higher Self. The yoga studio's dark wood flooring, green earth tones, and tranquil lighting cultivate a relaxing environment where students peacefully work their way through the Hatha-style poses paired with meditation and inner reflection, striving to calm the mind's constant nagging about remembering to breathe. The studio hosts more than 30 classes and workshops each month— including Zumba, belly dance, hoop, and tai chi, in addition to yoga—as well as regular presentations from guest speakers. Just beyond the meditation floor lies a metaphysical gallery of books, jewelry, healing stones, and crystals to supplement students' practice.

Lauded as the 18th best course in Florida by GolfLink, Madison Green Golf Club's 18-hole layout pairs the rugged feel of a Scottish links-style course with the dazzling palm trees and waterways of South Florida. Water hazards come into play on all but one hole throughout the round, challenging golfers with multiple forced-carries and attracting aviary guests including great blue herons, sandhill cranes, and thirsty weather balloons. In the absence of the thick heather grasses of Scotland, Madison Green ensnares errant orbs with 12 acres of brambly pine barrens, 250 oaks, and 500 palm trees. Golfers navigate the pristine par 72 in carts equipped with Visage Touchscreen GPS technology, which presents flyovers of each hole in 3-D images and tells golfers their exact yardage from upcoming targets, hazards, and charging linebackers.

The Club's 7,000-square-foot clubhouse provides convenient amenities including men's and women's locker and steam rooms, a well-stocked pro shop, and a full-service bar and grill. Clubbers can fine-tune their game at the driving range, where grass hitting areas mirror course conditions and low-handicap earthworms generously proffer swing advice.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 7,106 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 73.6 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 144 from the farthest tees
• Six tee options